Dhaka, June 2 (IANS): The order for the construction of a core structure of Bangladesh's biggest bridge project has been issued to a leading Chinese construction firm, the country's Communications Minister Obaidul Quader said Monday.
“There is no hurdle in starting work. The agreement will be signed anytime soon,” bdnews24.com quoted Quader as saying.
The proposed 25-metre-wide and 10-km-long bridge will be built over river Padma, one of the three major rivers in Bangladesh.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved the proposal of the cabinet committee on purchase," Quader said.
The total cost of this project is 121 billion takas ($1.56 billion).
Regarding the cost of the project, the minister said that the limit can escalate upto 160 billion takas to construct the main structure of the bridge.
The Bangladesh government June 26 last year floated international bids for the construction of the stalled Padma Multipurpose Bridge.
Several companies had submitted tenders for this project but the firm China Major Bridge Engineering, quoted 12.62 percent less than the estimated cost.
After construction, the bridge will directly connect 21 districts in the country’s southern part with capital Dhaka.
The Bangladesh government initially took a loan of $1.2 billion from The World Bank, but due to some alleged "corruption conspiracy" in appointing a consultant for the project, the government cancelled the loan and announced that the bridge would be built with its own resources.